Play gun



Dec. 17, 1935.

O. M. BRATRUD Filed June 27, -1935 .r ...,.hn nl INVENTOR. Off@ jra frz/Q f BY ATTo NEYS.

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Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in play guns, and more particularly refers to a hit and catch play gun arranged to allow a player to project a ball from the gun and to catch the ball with the same gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for automatically returning the ball caught by the p'layer into an operative position for projection from the gun.

A further object of the invention is to combine with a play gun a hopper by means of which a ball projected into the air may be caught and to provide a communication between the hopper and the gun for automatically returning a ball from the hopper into the gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide a catching tool comprising a handle with a hopper thereon for catching the ball projected through the air. A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a device of the character described an improved means for projecting a ball from the top of the gun.

Further objects and advantages of my inven tion will appear as the specification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l shows a vertical section through my play gun taken along line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 a top plan View of my play gun when held in vertical position; and

Figure 3 an enlarged sectional detail View taken along line 3 3 of Figure 2.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, I wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing from the spirit of the invention. v

In its preferred form my play gun I comprises a tube 2 of suitable length in which a plunger 3 is adapted to reciprocate, the plunger being somewhat smaller than'the inner diameter of the tube, and being guided, at the bottom end of the tube by a sleeve 4 secured to the tube and toward the upper end by a sleeve 5 secured to the plunger by means of a pin 6. A spring? encircles the stem and is confined between the sleeves I and 5 so that when the plunger is retracted by means of a handle 3 it is placed under compression and has a tendency to project the plunger forward when the handle 3 is released. A cushioning member 9 is preferably introduced between the handle 8 and the sleeve il. Y

'Toward the upper end of the tube there is provided a seat I8 for a ball indicated at II, the

seat being tapered as shown at I2 to receive the ball and the lower face of the seat I3 being also tapered to serve as a guide for the plunger in case the latter should become slightly oi center.

The tube has a hopper I4 secured thereto at 5 its discharge end, the hopper being tapered and presenting a comparatively large opening as at I5, substantially on a level with the discharge end of the tube and being formed with a bottom IIS which guides a ball descending through the hop- 10 per through an opening I'I in the tube toward the seat I2. The opening I'I is preferably made square or rectangular to provide ample space for the ball and the plunger is made of sufficient -length to project beyond the seat I2 and to prel5 vent the ball I I from entering the tube as long as the plunger is in inactive position. The hopper itself is preferably equipped with a number of vanes indicated at I3 which prevent a ball caught in thehopper from bouncing and tends to arrest 2o excessive movement of such ball.

My device may be used in various different ways as a play gun. When used by a single player it may be used in its simplest form by the player holding the gun in an upright position 25 as shown in Figure l, with a ball arranged in the hopper, then retracting the plunger 3, which causes the ball II to roll into the tube and to come to rest on the seat I2, whereupon the player releases the handle which causes the ball to be 30 projected from the discharge end of the tube into the atmosphere.

If the tube is held vertically the ball will return substantially to the same place from which it started, and the player may show -his skill by 35 catching the returning ball in the hopper. When the ball is caught in the hopper it will automatically return to the position indicated in Figure 1, and will be ready for the next operation. Y The device may also be used with two or more balls, the operator shooting the balls into the atmosphere successively, and catching the Vballs successively, as in juggling. The device may also be used by several players, each being equipped with the device, and shooting the ball toward the 45 other.

It stands to reason that the hopper feature of the device may be used by itself as a catching tool for a hand-thrown ball.

I claim: Y

1. A play gun comprising a tube of uniform cross section having an annular tapered seat for a ball therein, a spring actuated plunger reciprocable within the tube for projecting the ball from the tube and a hopper secured to the tube and 55 having communication with the latter for delivering a ball to the seat, the seat having a downwardly presented tapered face for guiding the plunger toward the seated ball.

2. A play gun comprising a tube of uniformV diameter throughout its length and having a ball receiving opening in its side, a hopper disposed at the outlet end of the tube for feeding a ball to the opening, an annular ball receiving seat mounted in the tube and adjacent to the opening, and a spring pressed plunger reciprocal in the tube and having a portion extending through the seat for normally closing the opening, said plunger being manually retracted for permitting the ball to pass from the hopper onto the seat, whereupon the plunger can be freed for shooting the ball from Ythe gun, and vanes disposed in the hopper for quickly slowing up the momentum of the ball when caught in the hopper before it reaches the bottom of the hopper. 

